Toyota GR Supra vs BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota GR Supra in South Africa

Toyota GR Supra

3.0T Manual Petrol 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 1,561,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 285 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12 km/l
VS
BYD SEALION 5 DM-i in South Africa

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

Dynamic DM-i Plug-in Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 569,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 72 kW 🔧 122 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota GR Supra vs BYD SEALION 5 DM-i: the short answer

GR Supra and SEALION 5 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

SEALION 5 DM-i starts ZAR 1,014,900 cheaper GR Supra from ZAR 1,524,800 · SEALION 5 DM-i from ZAR 509,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GR Supra SEALION 5 DM-i
Maximum Power GR Supra285 kW SEALION 5 DM-i72 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque GR Supra500 Nm SEALION 5 DM-i122 Nm @ 4000-4500 rpm
Engine Size GR Supra2998 cc SEALION 5 DM-i1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy GR Supra12 km/l SEALION 5 DM-i19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance GR Supra117 mm SEALION 5 DM-i150 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Toyota GR Supra

3.0T Manual

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BYD SEALION 5 DM-i

Dynamic DM-i

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

GR Supra

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

SEALION 5 DM-i

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

GR Supra

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

SEALION 5 DM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR Supra SEALION 5 DM-i
Model Introduced Year 2021 2026
Generation A90 fifth generation – co-developed with BMW on the CLAR platform First South African SEALION 5 DM-i generation
Facelift History Manual gearbox and power upgrade (280 kW→285 kW) in 2023 No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan SUV
Color Note Matte White, Nitro Yellow, Renaissance Red, Gravure Grey, Tungsten Silver, Black -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment Sedan Medium SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1545 kg -
Vehicle Type Sedan Passenger vehicle
Spec GR Supra SEALION 5 DM-i
Length 4380 mm 4738 mm
Width 1865 mm 1860 mm
Height 1294 mm 1710 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2712 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 117 mm 150 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 52 l
Boot/Cargo Space 290 l 463 l
Kerb Weight 1545 kg 1735 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1870 kg 2145 kg
Payload Capacity 325 kg 410 kg
Towing Capacity 1600 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 1 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.3 m 6.0 m
Front Headroom 995 mm 970 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 910 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1100 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 935 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This GR Supra and SEALION 5 DM-i comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: GR Supra 94 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 39.

Efficiency index: GR Supra 47 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 81.

Safety-equipment index: GR Supra 98 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 92.

Practicality index: GR Supra 40 vs SEALION 5 DM-i 61.

Ownership-cover index: GR Supra 43 vs SEALION 5 DM-i not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

GR Supra leads by 0 points

GR Supra and SEALION 5 DM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 67 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 90% source coverage
67
#1 Evidence leader

GR Supra

90% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Practicality 40
Performance 94
Efficiency 47
Safety 98
Practicality 40
Ownership 43
Leads by 0 points
67
#2

SEALION 5 DM-i

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 81
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GR Supra +55 Efficiency SEALION 5 DM-i +34 Safety GR Supra +6 Practicality SEALION 5 DM-i +21

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

GR Supra

Performance 94/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 40/100
Ownership 43/100

SEALION 5 DM-i

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota GR Supra leads the specification evidence index with 67 pts vs 67 pts for SEALION 5 DM-i

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, GR Supra leads. However, SEALION 5 DM-i may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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GR Supra vs SEALION 5 DM-i questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.